Related Tags:

Legislative Session Coverage

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) – A bill that would repeal the law which allows city’s to use cameras at intersections to catch red light runners has narrowly passed in the Florida House.

On Monday, the chamber voted 59-57 for the repeal bill (HB 4087). The Senate version of the repeal (SB 672) is stuck committee.

Rep. Richard Corcoran, New Port Richey (R), sponsored the bill. He says the law passed last year which allows the cameras is nothing more than front to make money for companies that contract with local governments to provide the cameras.

State Senator Rene Garcia, who sponsored SB 672 said the state law which allows the red light cameras is an “unwarranted, big-brother initiative.” Garcia said that the red light cameras have simply become a way for local governments to use “these cameras to tax their citizens under the disguise of safety.”

Others argued the cameras are an invasion of privacy and disputed studies showing they save lives.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ‘red light’ cameras have saved roughly 159 lives over four years in a study of 14 major cities.

The state’s Revenue Estimating Conference has projected that red light camera programs will bring roughly $100 million into the state and $75 million into local governments over the next two years.